Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who appeared at the TED stage yesterday, explained that smartphones don't allow their users to interact enough with the outside world, and even called them "emasculating." People walk around with their faces buried in their smartphone's screen and swipe at a piece of glass.

"Is this the way you're meant to interact with other people?" asked Brin. "It's kind of emasculating. Is this what you're meant to do with your body?

"When we started Google 15 years ago, my vision was that information would come to you as you need it. You wouldn't have to search query at all."

According to Brin, Google Glass -- a hands-free, voice-activated headset with augmented reality features -- is that vision materialized. Brin showed Google Glass off at TED, saying it's the way people were meant to interact with one another while still using digital technology.

Google Glass is being offered to early adopters right now for a steep price of $1,500.

Agree with you on voice control. Also on a PC voice control is much slower than just using the mouse or keyboard. But I think they use voice because it's the easiest method for them to realize Google Glass right now and it will always be a fundamental part. (while driving, voice control is much easier than to use a keyboard, while doing other stuff with your hands, voice control is the only option to input text)Once the product has reached a usable state, with voice control, they'll surely integrate other methods, like gesture control (you get a keyboard/buttons projected to the glass), mind control (the thing is already on your head, shouldn't be too hard to read brainwaves and at least control most basic options) and eye control.

Once transparent OLEDs reached a usable state they'll also ditch the projection method and use such a display instead, making the whole device much smaller and better looking.

It's just a prototype right now, which Google publicly develops and tests and they're proud to share their results with us and they let us buy those prototypes and give feedback to contribute to the way we'll interact with machines in the future.

quote: Once transparent OLEDs reached a usable state they'll also ditch the projection method and use such a display instead, making the whole device much smaller and better looking.

And how can the eye focus on a device 12mm away from the surface of the eye? Can your eyes focus that close? Obviously there are some serious engineering feats to be accomplished before OLEDs are usable if ever.